Derrus
A masculine name likely derived from the Old Norse "djur" meaning beast or animal.
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Derrus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Derrus today is around 50 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Derrus births was 1979 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Derrus. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Derrus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1979
9 babies that year
Average age
50
years old
1979 SSA rank
#4,161
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Derrus: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Derrus by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Derrus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9 | 0 | 9 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Derrus
The name Derrus is believed to have its origins in the ancient Celtic language, tracing back to the Iron Age cultures of western and central Europe. It is thought to be derived from the Proto-Celtic root word "derw," which means "oak tree" or "true." This suggests that the name may have been associated with strength, endurance, and a connection to nature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Derrus can be found in ancient Irish texts, specifically the Annals of Ulster, which chronicle events from the 5th to the 16th century AD. In these annals, Derrus is mentioned as the name of a minor chieftain who lived in the 9th century.
During the Middle Ages, the name Derrus gained some popularity within certain regions of Ireland and Scotland. It is recorded that in the 12th century, a Scottish nobleman named Derrus of Galloway played a significant role in the conflicts between Scotland and England, ultimately pledging allegiance to the Scottish crown.
In the 15th century, a notable figure named Derrus O'Malley emerged as a prominent seafarer and trader along the western coast of Ireland. He was known for his daring voyages and successful trading ventures with various European nations.
As the Renaissance period dawned, the name Derrus found its way into the arts and literature. In the 16th century, an English playwright and poet named Derrus Smythe gained recognition for his satirical works that commented on the societal norms of the time.
Another noteworthy individual bearing the name Derrus was a French philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 17th century. Derrus Descartes made significant contributions to the fields of geometry and analytic philosophy, and his works influenced many subsequent thinkers.
While the name Derrus may have declined in usage over the centuries, it has left an indelible mark on history, reflecting the richness and diversity of cultural traditions from which it emerged.
People
Derrus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Derrus as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Derrus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Derrus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Derrus going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Derrus a common name?
We classify Derrus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 9 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Derrus most popular?
The single biggest year for Derrus was 1979, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Derrus is about 50 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Derrus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Derrus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Derrus in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Derrus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Derrus in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Derrus can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Derrus?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the name Derrus at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.